HIMACHAL PRADESH

 

 

On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State. Himachal is in the western Himalayas. Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range.

• It emerged as the eighteenth state of India.
• The word ‘Hima’ actually means snow in Sanskrit terminology. Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma, an eminent Sanskrit Scholar from Himachal Pradesh named the state.

 

Capital	Shimla Winter capital- Dharamshala, declared in 2017
Date of Formation	25th January 1971
State Boundaries	Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
International boundaries	China
Number of Districts	12
Tourist Place	Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dharamshala, Chamba, Dalhousie
Festivals	Fulaich Pori Manali Winter carnival Halda Dechhang Phagli Gochi Lossar-Tibetan New Year Phulaich Festival
Dance & Music forms	Mala dance Rakshas dance Chham dance Kulli Nati Kayang Bnayangchu Jataru Kayang Chohara Gugga dance Losar Shona Chuksam Ghurehi Kullu Naati
Arts & Crafts	Basholi and Kangra style Pahari paintings Kullu Shawls, Woollen caps, Chamba Rumal (Kangra style embroidery cloth)
Temples	Naina Devi Mata Chintpurni Chaurasi temples Jawalamukhi temple Hadimba temple Bajreshwari temple Chamunda temple Renukaji temples Baijnath Baba Balak Nath
Buddhist Pilgrimages	Rewalsar Guru Ghantal Monastery Kardang Monastery Shashur monastery Tayul Gompa Kye Monastery Thang Yug Gompa Dhankar Monastery Tabo Monastery
Languages	Kinnauri, Pahari, Hindi, Punjabi
State Animal	Snow Leopard
State Bird	Western Tragopan
State Flower	Pink Rhododendron
State Tree	Deodar
UNESCO Sites	Kalka-Shimla Railways (Toy Train) Great Himalayan National Park
Division of State	Outer Himalaya (Shiwaliks) Lesser Himalaya (Himachal) Greater Himalaya (Himadri)
Rivers	Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Yamuna, Sutlej
Major Crops	Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley
Fruits	Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Kiwis, Plums Dry fruits – hazelnuts, chilgoza
Passes	Rohtang Pass Bara-Lacha La Shipki La Pin-Parvati Pass Kunzum Pass
Lakes	Suraj Tal Chander Tal Gobind Sagar Dal Beas Kund Mani Mahesh Khajjar Renuka Rewalsar
Ramsar Wetland Site	Chandertal Pong dam Renuka
National Park	Great Himalayan National Park Pin Valley National Park Inderkilla National Park Khirganga National Park Simbalbara National Park
Wildlife sanctuaries	Sechu Tuan Nalla, Chamba Rupi Bhaba, Kinnaur Pong Dam Sanctuary, Kangra Dhauladhar, Kangra Renuka-Sirmaur Gamgul-Siyabehi-Chamba Kibber-Lahaul & Spiti
Resources	Limestone, Rock Salt, Gypsum, Magnesite, Pyrite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica sand
Tribes	Bhot, Bodh, Beta, Doma, Gaddi, Jad, Lamba, Pangwala
Ancient Tribes	Dagis, Khasas, Koilis, Halis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Kinnars, Kirats
Institutions	Institute of Himalayan Bioresources Technology, Palampur Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla
Power Plants	Bassi Hydroelectric Project (Kullu) Larji Hydroelectric Project (Shimla) Girinagar Hydel Project (Palampur) Binwa Hydel Project (Kinnaur) Sanjay Vidyut Pariyojna (Mandi) Baner and Neugal Project (Kangra) Andhra Hydel Project (Rohru – Shimla) Rongtong Hydel Project (Lahaul-Spiti) Nathpa Jhakri Project (funded by world bank)
Famous Personalities	Kangana Ranaut Anupam Kher Captain Vikram Batra Tenzin Gyatso Ruskin Bond Charanjit Singh

 

Facts

• Himachal Pradesh became a part C state on 26th January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India.
• Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1st July 1954.
• Himachal Pradesh became Union Territory on 1st November 1956.
• Kangra and most of the other hill areas of Punjab were merged with H.P. on 1st November 1966 through its status remained that of a Union Territory.
• On 18th December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25th January 1971.
• Shimla district is leading producer of fruits.
• Solan – Mushroom Capital of India.
• Sirmaur – leading flower producing district.
• Reo Purgyil (6816 mt.) is the highest mountain peak of state.
• The State is the sole holder of country’s rock salt resources
• Kangra Paintings- Miniature painting.
• Manikaran is famous for its hot springs.
• Manikaran Geothermal field, Parbati Valley-Kulu district.
• Dharamshala-Dalai Lama’s residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) are in Dharamshala. Many Tibetan refugees are resettled here.
• Around 883 AD some parts of the state were under the control of the king of Kashmir, Sankar Varma.
• Around 1009 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded the region. Rajputs exercised influence over the region in around 1043.
• By 1804, vast regions of the state passed into the hands of Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Many regions of the state also witnessed Gorkha rule.
• The state sells hydro electricity power to Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan.
• Himachal Pradesh boasts of a wide variety of fauna which include approximately 463 bird, 80 fish, 77 mammalian, and some 44 reptile species.
• Kasol is famous by the nickname of ‘Mini Israel’ perhaps because of its maximum tourists being that of Israeli origin and so most of the shops and inns to bear hoarding in the Hebrew language. Moreover, the clothes, goods and food, especially pita bread and hummus also give you the feeling of being in Israel.
• Malana, a fairly unexplored and hidden village in Himachal Pradesh is also famous by the name of ‘The Village of Taboos’ which is mainly because of their strict rules of no outsider touching any wall or belonging of the residents.
• Malana is also one of the oldest democracies and interestingly it has its own set of Greek-resembling beliefs and ways. The village is also infamous as a weed-tourist destination. In fact, it has won the title of ‘Best Hashish’ twice; once in the year 1994 and again in 1996 at High Times magazine Cannabis Cup.
• Himachal Pradesh is the land of deities. Almost every village has its own Gods and Goddesses which the local people rigorously worship.
• Shimla is the only place in the whole of Asia to sport a natural ice skating rink.

 

 

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Also read more about other Indian States 

 

• ANDHRA PRADESH
• ARUNACHAL PRADESH
• ASSAM
• BIHAR
• CHHATTISGARH
• GOA
• GUJARAT
• HARYANA